Ukraine and France want to strengthen political relations

Ukraine and France want to intensify relations at the government level, reported RBC-Ukraine with reference to the information department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

A meeting had been held on October 12th between the head of the Verkhovna Rada Foreign Affairs Committee of Ukraine, Hanna Hopko and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the European Integration Parliament of Ukraine, Maria Ionova with French Senator Olivier Cadic. The meeting was also attended by French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont.

"The parties exchanged views during the meeting on a wide range of relevant issues of bilateral relations in all areas. The activity of bilateral political dialogue at the inter-parliamentary level of the two countries was emphasized, and the importance of intensifying relations at the government level was noted," the report said.

Ukrainian parliamentarians informed the French about the internal political situation and the state of reforms in Ukraine. Separate attention was given to the discussion on countering Russian aggression in the Donbas and in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, on the importance to fully restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and on the situation in the Crimea.

Earlier, the former President of France Francois Hollande talked about the progress of reforms in Ukraine. Some of these reforms were most evident in the development of the armed forces. Fifteen helicopter bases and a service center for French Airbus Helicopters will soon begin to operate in Ukraine. Kyiv plans to purchase fifty-five of the said helicopters.